Harvey Barnes is keen on joining Newcastle United if they push hard for his signature this summer, sources have told Football Insider.
Barnes is one of three English creative or attacking midfielders on Newcastle’s shopping list alongside James Maddison and Mason Mount, as per this site’s sources.
It is understood that the 25-year-old will quit Leicester City this summer regardless of whether the Foxes escape relegation on the Premier League final day or not.
Barnes has two years remaining on his Foxes contract but wants to join a club regularly competing in the Champions League after a successful personal campaign at Leicester.
Leicester are open to selling Barnes this summer to raise funds, but only if a club is able to meet their £40million asking price.
Despite Leicester’s hugely disappointing Premier League campaign, Barnes has impressed throughout the 2022/23 season.
He is the club’s top scorer in all competitions this season with 12 goals in 39 appearances – all of which have come in the Premier League. Maddison ranks second with 10 goals in 31.
He has played a total of 3,157 minutes for the Midlands side this season but has not completed a full 90-minute match since the 5-2 loss to Fulham – manager Dean Smith hooked Barnes off in the 3-0 defeat to Liverpool and then didn’t start him in last week’s 0-0 draw with Newcastle United.
Barnes will hope to be back in the side as a starter for Sunday’s crucial relegation fight against West Ham at the King Power Stadium.
In other news, two offers revealed with £20m-plus Newcastle United deal all but done
